BREAKING: Mandy Patinkin Withdraws from THE GREAT COMET

[Nicole7579]

BroadwayConcierge said: "Cynthia Erivo is one of this generation's greatest talents, but she must stop being so patronizing to people on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/cynthiaerivo/status/891062644056236032

 

"

Eh the response was appropriate given the original patrionizing comment towards her. ¯\_(?)_/¯ 

[Mossee]

I registered just to commiserate about this! I love the cast recording. Obsessed. Bought tickets for a trip to NYC this summer. I love Oak, so was excited to see him. I have adored Mandy since I was a teen, so was over the moon to see him. I've just been counting down the days. Then this debacle happens... and my tickets on 8/15 seem like the worst decision ever. I'm not going to see this show, am I? What a mess. All around. For everyone. 

[schubox]

And now there's this

 

https://twitter.com/GreatCometBway/status/891062785697861636

[GeorgeandDot]

I wouldn't be surprised if we see the producers suing Casal for defamation.  He has single-handly managed to close a Broadway show.  Absolutely shameful.  So many beautiful PoC out of a job.  I feel so bad for Denee.  This show made her a star in a role that many productions wouldn't have allowed her to play.  I wish the cast the best.

[Wick3]

Given the outcome of this, do you think this hurts chances of Oak getting another job in a lead role on Broadway? 

 

[GeorgeandDot]

Wick3 said: "Given the outcome of this, do you think this hurts chances of Oak getting another job in a lead role on Broadway?"

Probably.  It wasn't a good career move.  

I get that he was kind of put in a crappy situation, but his passive aggressive response kind of screwed over his cast mates.  Soon they'll all be unemployed.

[cam5y]

schubox said: "And now there's this

https://twitter.com/GreatCometBway/status/891062785697861636"

That is appallingly tone-deaf. This is in no way Oak's fault. Even Malloy's statement was disingenuous, as there is no possible equivalence between an easily explained "vacation" and getting rid of your star three weeks early. All of this stinks to high heaven.

[littlemouse921]

Does anyone think the producers could beg Philippa Soo to come back for a short stint to keep it afloat? 

[non-stop26]

Well this is one big plot twist after the other. I wonder how long the show's been in this financial state. Best wishes to all those involved.

[Eliza2]

Josh Groban: https://twitter.com/joshgroban/status/891068396124725249

"This thread sums it up. Just so sad for cast, crew, creators, oak and mandy. all deserve our love. This was handled poorly plain and simple."

 

[10086Sundays]

littlemouse921 said: "Does anyone think the producers could beg Philippa Soo to come back for a short stint to keep it afloat? "

This is a joke right?  If not, she can't do it because of Amelie.  Oh wait...

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

Hamilcasting won't save the show. Pippa Soo isn't the solution to financial issues.

[GeorgeandDot]

The more I hear the more convinced I am that Oak's ego may have been too big to understand that he needed to leave in order for the show to stay afloat.  I really think that Oak may have personally sunk this show prematurely.

[amazingamandakate]

I mean, Soo would probably sell more tickets than Oak.... but that's not saying much.

[Eliza2]

littlemouse921 said: "Does anyone think the producers could beg Philippa Soo to come back for a short stint to keep it afloat? "

and push out DENEE? *facepalm*

 

[schubox]

oncemorewithfeeling2 said: "Hamilcasting won't save the show. Pippa Soo isn't the solution to financial issues.

 

"

Yeah unless they're getting Lin to walk in, no one from Hamilton is saving this 

[thealtoslament]

littlemouse921 said: "Does anyone think the producers could beg Philippa Soo to come back for a short stint to keep it afloat? 

 

"

I really don't think pushing out a 3rd actor under really ****ty circumstances is going to win the show/producers any favor.

[VintageSnarker]

vampire musical said: "So the lead producers wanted to save face by not admitting their show was on the brink of closing so they misled a Broadway legend into what would have been a highly anticipated comeback whilst screwing over a younger, but socially popular actor all so the producing team wouldn't have to admit failure.  And that "face-saving" made them fail the entire company.    

To be fair, I think it's more than saving face. How many average theater-goers want to see the show that sounds like it's sinking? They're already mainly flocking to the mega-hits (Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, Wicked, Lion King, etc.) Hearing that a show is scrambling for star casting to keep running isn't really how you move a lot of tickets.

[mullein]

GeorgeandDot said: "The more I hear the more convinced I am that Oak's ego may have been too big to understand that he needed to leave in order for the show to stay afloat.  I really think that Oak may have personally sunk this show prematurely.

 

"

Are you being paid by the Kagans to wage a war on Oak?

[BroadwayConcierge]

schubox said: "And now there's this


https://twitter.com/GreatCometBway/status/891062785697861636"

Whoever is behind these statements needs to be fired. The Comet team either needs to hire better PR representation or even a crisis manager because they are continually shooting themselves in the feet with such stupid phrasings. 

[Nicole7579]

Eliza2 said: "Josh Groban: https://twitter.com/joshgroban/status/891068396124725249

"This thread sums it up. Just so sad for cast, crew, creators, oak and mandy. all deserve our love. This was handled poorly plain and simple."

 

 

"

Josh said it best. It was poorly handled and the ones to blame are the producers (who apparently are still putting the blame everywhere but on themselves). Sounds like Oak and Mandy were blindsided by the whole thing. 
The thing is why didn't they have someone lined up to take over for Groban that was huge? Makes me wonder how DEH will survive post-Platt as well.

[Jarethan]

NYadgal said: "I hope they're able to bring in someone else to keep the show going.   Hopefully all of this "press" will have done something to move people to buy tickets...  

 

It is just going to reinforce their view that this show was about Groban, fair or not, and with him gone, there is no point in seeing the show.  That's why The Boy From Oz closed without even trying to replace Jackman.  

I recognize that Oz was a lousy show, but I will also bet that the average casual theatergoer enjoyed Oz more than TGC.  I liked TGC -- I didn't love it, and was bored periodically throughout the show -- but was never emotionally invested, as it was pretty tough going without having familiarity with the score.  If they do close it, they are probably making the first smart financial move they have made since not getting a longer commitment from Groban in the first place.

[blaxx]

BroadwayNYC2 said: " You spelled "Mandy made the right choice" wrong

 

You spelled "Mandy made the choice people on the internet forced him to make" wrong

 

Yes, because the man who has been on Broadway, film and TV for decades and has zero need for this kind of BS can be "forced" by the internet. Please.  If anything, he just couldn't be bothered to be part of a show handled by an incompetent production team. Good for him. Sorry for the employed, not sorry for the amateurish PR move. 

 

[JustAnotherNewYorker]

Eliza2 said: "littlemouse921 said: "Does anyone think the producers could beg Philippa Soo to come back for a short stint to keep it afloat? "

and push out DENEE? *facepalm*"

That would be moronic. They clearly need to bring Cynthia in for a bit. She would be a draw as Natasha (or as Pierre)

[rosemarycountess2017]

Mossee said: "I registered just to commiserate about this! I love the cast recording. Obsessed. Bought tickets for a trip to NYC this summer. I love Oak, so was excited to see him. I have adored Mandy since I was a teen, so was over the moon to see him. I've just been counting down the days. Then this debacle happens... and my tickets on 8/15 seem like the worst decision ever. I'm not going to see this show, am I? What a mess. All around. For everyone. 

 

"

Feel you. Same on my side - I am flying to NYC for the first time in the end of August and I really wanted to see this show, as I'm Russian. I was fine with any cast, but Mandy is a childhood figure, so I was absolutely happy to see him. Not sure the show stays long enough for me to even watch it. Sad, very sad situation. 

[blaxx]

GeorgeandDot said: "The more I hear the more convinced I am that Oak's ego may have been too big to understand that he needed to leave in order for the show to stay afloat.  I really think that Oak may have personally sunk this show prematurely.

 

Yes!  Let's totally blame the performer who signed a contract to lead a Broadway show and was kicked out like trash for this. Totally his fault.